Antrim Marina - Sunday 17th August 2025...

Antrim Marina - Sunday 17th August 2025

Today saw me making my third weekly visit to Antrim Marina to study a wintering population of Black-headed Gulls.  With the breeding season over, the non resident gulls will slowly return in numbers.  Some of these gulls have been colour-ringed over previous winters, and I'm eager to see the return of these birds.

Before I go any further, I must make mention of an email that I received on Wednesday 20th August.  It was sent by Eimear Rooney who is one of the 'leads' of the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group.  Eimear called by Antrim Marina on Friday 15th August, where she recorded four colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls by the picnic tables.  Three of these were already on this winter's list of sightings, being -  2ACV ,  2CJT  and  2FFA .  The fourth on the list was that of -  2BRA , which was not recorded during my first two weekly visits, or during my third visit today.   2BRA , is actually a year round resident to the Marina and was recorded during my random summer visits to specifically identify which gulls are residents.

 2BRA , was ringed as an adult female on the 1st February 2015, at the Marina.  The duration since being ringed, is now 10 years, 6 months and 14 days.  Although I have yet to record this gull during my weekly visits, I will add it onto this winter's list.  My thanks goes to Eimear for sending me her sightings.

I arrived at Antrim Marina just before 10am this morning.  It was very sunny with the temperature gauge in my car reading 21ºC, and there was a light westerly breeze.  Around 50 Black-headed Gulls were present, and this was actually the highest count of the visit.  Numbers fluctuated from just a handful of birds to around 40 thereafter.  The arrival of two paddleboarders at 12:05, had the gulls fleeing.  The paddleboarders made their way upriver, and the gulls began to return just after 12:30.

Over my previous two visits, I had recorded 15 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls forming the basis of this winters list of re-sightings.  With a total of 13 colour-rings read today, 3 of these were added to the list and I had 5 absentees.

The 3rd of these additions was the 12th ring read at 11:48, but this was a bird I really needed to catch.  Despite my sighting of it, the gull soon flew off.  The gull concerned was -  2FDK  which is a year round resident to the Marina and the surrounding town of Antrim.  I recorded it at Antrim Marina during a random summer visit on the 8th June 2025, but on the 16th July, I received a rather disturbing email.  The gull was photographed at Antrim's Junction One Shopping Centre, the colour-ring having slipped over the bird's ankle and toes - which is not ideal.  Although colour-rings are used by many birdwatchers, it is extremely rare for these to slip.

I told Emma Tweed who sent me the photo, I would try to catch -  2FDK , though my best hope would be at Antrim Marina once I begin my weekly visits in August.  Although the gull flew of within minutes of me spotting it today, just as I was using the last of my brown bread to feed the swans before my departure,  2FDK  landed beside me on the slipway.  Dropping some bread onto the ground beside the male Mute Swan, the gull edged it's way in.  Standing up slightly, I could see the bird disappearing as I looked over the back of the swan and I made a lunge for it, and caught it.  

Happy days, I moved the ring back into it's normal position and cleared the debris compacted around the toes which I spread out.  Unfortunately, the toes looked 'slightly wasted', but I'm now hoping with them having been freed, they will improve.  The leg otherwise, looked to be quite healthy.  I informed Emma that I had caught the gull and it had been freed from it's predicament, much to Emma's delight.  She was glad to hear that it was still alive.  I will try to get a photo whenever possible.

The first of today's new birds, was that of -  2ABN , my third sighting of the day at 10:20.   2ABN , is a winter visitor at Antrim Marina.  Two sightings away from the Marina, were reported in March 2022 and in May 2024, at Peatlands Park in the south-west corner of Lough Neagh.  No breeding colonies are known in the area of Peatlands Park, but by continuing the line south-west, it may possibly see this bird nesting somewhere in the County Fermanagh Lakelands or further still into the Republic of Ireland.

 2ABN , was among the first gulls to be ringed belonging to Adam McClure's former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study (2012 to 2018).  Ringed at the Marina as an adult female, on the 23rd January 2013, the duration since being ringed, is now 12 years, 6 months and 25 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2ABN   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (17 Aug 2025)

(Ringed as an Adult Female, on the 23rd January 2013, at Antrim Marina)

Following on from the sighting of -  2ABN , my fourth sighting of the day at 10:26, was the return of a gull which I regard as slightly special, as I had colour-ringed it here as a juvenile/1st winter bird on the 12th November 2023.  Ringed -  2FJF , my final sighting during the 2023/2024 winter was made on the 31st March 2024.

Despite no sighting's during random visits to the Marina during the breeding season,  2FJF  had returned by the 4th August 2024.  Having then recorded it through to the 12th January 2025, an email arrived on the 17th January 2025.  Sent by Scott Black,  2FJF  was photographed earlier that day at Strathclyde Country Park near Motherwell in Scotland.  This was an extremely early movement, and seeing as this gull had reached maturity, it was obviously making a move to it's breeding site.  Many young gulls return to their natal colonies to breed, but the question now - was  2FJF  breeding in Scotland, or moving further north-east which could take it into Scandinavia?

I had hoped for further sightings, but nothing came in.  What makes this bird special, is that it is of known age and the fact that it is breeding outside of Northern Ireland.  Really pleased to record it's return and I also informed Scott of the sighting, which was appreciated by him.  It is now 1 year, 9 months and 5 days since being ringed here.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FJF   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (17 Aug 2025)

(Ringed as a Juvenile/1st Winter Bird, on the 12th November 2023, at Antrim Marina)

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Sunday 17th August 2025

2FJA	2FJN	2ABN	2FJF	2FJK	2FFA	2FFT
2FHV	2ACV	2CJT	2FJT	2FDK	2AAN

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina This Autumn/Winter but Absent Today

2CSK	2CSR	2FFX	2FIL	2FJV

I kept a close watch for any Black-headed Gulls that were ringed with just a metal-ring.  An Icelandic Black-headed Gull -  543335 , is already due back, but there was no sign of it today.

With the addition of three returning gulls today, and Eimear's sighting of -  2BRA , my winter list has now increased to 19 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls.

I noted that several people tried to obtain pellets from the dispenser to feed the ducks, but the dispenser was obviously empty.  Due to this, many of the gulls and ducks were especially eager to get a feed when folk arrived with bread.  Perhaps in the next few weeks, it may be easier to catch some new gulls to be ringed.  Last winter, I found it to be quite difficult trying to catch the gulls after the dispenser had been installed.  I reckon the pellets seem to fill the gulls easier than bread.

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

On my arrival, the Mute Swan family was already present on the slipway, the female is ringed -  X4707 .  I once again tested to see how confident the six cygnets are when taking bread from my hand.  Three are very confident, with the other three slightly more cautious.

A count of the Mallards on arrival gave a total of 51 birds, and a second count around 1:30 gave me a total of 52.  Most of the ducks spent their time lying on the jetties enjoying the sun, therefore not many legs could be checked for rings.

The resident male Herring Gull was present throughout my visit, but there was no sign of his youngster today.  The female made a brief appearance around 11am, standing alongside her partner.  Just the one Lesser Black-backed Gull today - a 3rd calendar year bird which could be the same gull seen last week.  It remained for around 20 minutes before flying off.

The first Common Gull for this winter arrived at 12:40.  An adult bird, it was still present when I departed at 2pm.

The Sand Martins that were nesting in the 'Swift Holes' in the wall of the 'Gateway Centre' have gone.  Five Jackdaws which included one juvenile were noted on several occasions, and two Rooks arrived to drink some water from the river before flying off again.

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Antrim Marina - Sunday 10th August 2025...

Antrim Marina - Sunday 10th August 2025

Last Sunday (3rd August 2025), I made the first of my weekly visits to Antrim Marina to record the wintering population of Black-headed Gulls with some birds having been colour-ringed in previous winters going as far back as to 2012.  During my first visit, I recorded 13 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls which forms the basis of this winters list.  If all of last winter's birds return, the total should just surpass the 30 mark.  

Two years ago, there was a catastrophic loss of returning gulls.  With an expected total of around 50 colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls, only half of that total returned.  I suspected that 'Bird Flu' struck many breeding colonies during the summer of 2023, causing many of the loses, and one bird -  2FFC  was found dead in Germany's largest breeding colony and later tested positive for Bird Flu.

On the Tuesday (5th August) after my first winter visit to Antrim Marina, I received an email concerning one of my Marina study birds -  2FJX , along with a 'Post Code' for where it had been sighted.  The use of a post code for a location was a first, as most birdwatchers would include a Grid Reference.  The code read - BT41 4NU, and BT actually covers the whole of Northern Ireland.  Entering an online search of the postcode, it turned out to be in Antrim Town, more specifically around the Junction One Shopping Centre, which includes a McDonalds and a Burger King fast food outlet.  On asking the finder, was the gull spotted at either one, the bird was seen in the car park adjacent to McDonalds outlet.

 2FJX , was ringed as a juvenile / 1st winter bird on the 1st December 2024 at Antrim Marina where it was last seen on the 3rd March 2025.  Although not spotted last Sunday or during my latest visit, at least I know it is still alive and well.

Arriving at Antrim Marina at 10am this morning, my heart sank when I pulled up to the barrier leading to the front car park.  A lorry parked beside the 'Gateway Centre' belonged to the team that power-hoses the building every three months, cleaning windows and to remove cobwebs etc.  With noise of the power-washing motor and that of the hoses, not a single gull was present, though this did not effect the ducks or swans.  Parking beside the low wooden jetty, I was caught in two minds - go and come back tomorrow or just wait it out.  After a short period of time, I settled for the latter.

Power Washing in Progress  -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (10 Aug 2025)

Whilst waiting, a group of 8 Black-headed Gulls landed briefly beside my car at 11:09, two of which were colour-ringed -  2AAN  and  2CJT , with both having been recorded during my previous visit.  A minute or two later, they all took off.

At 11:34, another gull arrived on it's own and turned out to be -  2FJA , also recorded last week.  It was still present when just before midday, the team began to pack up.  On speaking to the boss, they started work at 6am, and he had me in mind hence the early start - very generous of him.  

I had to depart at 2pm, so I was left with just two hours to record any rings.  With no noise and the lorry gone, the gulls began to trickle in.  By 1pm, the total had reached the 40 mark and slowly decreased thereafter.  By the time of my departure, just 10 rings were read which included two additions to the winter's list.

The first at 12:02, was that of -  2CSK , which is a year round resident to the Marina and was recorded during my random summer visits to record the resident gulls.   2CSK  was ringed at the Marina as an unsexed adult on the 17th December 2017, and today's sighting takes the duration since being ringed, to 7 years, 7 months and 24 days.

Black-headed Gull  -   2CSK   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (10 Aug 2025)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 17th December 2017, at Antrim Marina)

The second addition to this winter's list, was -  2FJV .   2FJV , was caught and ringed at the Marina last winter, having been ringed as an unsexed adult on the 1st December 2024.  It remained at the Marina through to the 10th March 2025 and was not recorded during my random summer visits.  It may therefore be possible that it could be a foreign nester and looking at it's 'ruffled' appearance today, you would think it has just landed after a long flight.  It is now 8 months and 9 days since I ringed this one.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FJV   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (10 Aug 2025)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 1st December 2024, at Antrim Marina)

With the addition of the two latest sightings, this winter's list now stands at 15 colour-rings altogether.  Not a great visit today due to the circumstances.  On the plus side, there was a significant rise in the number of juveniles.  Today I had 12, as compared to a maximum of 4 last week.  All of the juveniles seem to be fairly comfortable being around people feeding the ducks and a few of them have already 'clocked on' to folk approaching the pellet dispenser.  They know they will have an opportunity to grab some pellets whilst being thrown out to the ducks.

I was hoping to record the return of the metal-rung Icelandic Black-headed Gull -  543335 .  I kept a keen eye for any metal-only gulls and hopefully better luck next week.

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Sunday 10th August 2025

2AAN	2CJT	2FJA	2CSK	2FFX	2FHV	2FJK	2FJV	2FIL	2FJN

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded This Autumn/Winter at Antrim Marina but Absent Today

2ACV	2CSR	2FFA	2FFT	2FJT

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

The Mute Swan family with six cygnets were present throughout my visit, the female being ringed -  X4707 .  When they all came ashore onto the slipway, it gave me a chance to see how confident the youngsters are.  Holding a fistful of bread, they had to work at trying to pry bread from my hand.  Four of the six youngsters were confident to do so.  A young lady watching was fascinated so I handed her some bread and explained what to do.  On dong so, I told her she would be able to stroke the chicks which left her leaving very delighted.  I think her hubby/boyfriend was surprised that she actually had the courage to feed the youngsters.  I got a huge 'Thank You' from her.

Around 60 Mallards were present at all times.  As normal, most if not all legs were checked for rings.

The adult male Herring Gull arrived briefly at 10:32, and returned with his youngster just after the cessation of the power-washing.  Both were still present when I departed.  No sign of the female yet, but it was a similar situation last winter with last year's chick remained with dad, with the female making the odd appearance every so often.

No Common Gulls today, and a 3rd Calendar Year Lesser Black-backed Gull arrived at 13:18, staying for just 10 minutes.

The nesting Sand Martins are still present, and five Jackdaws were the only other birds recorded.

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Just Like Buses...

Black-headed Gull - Orange 2ALT

You know the old saying - Your Waiting for a Bus, Then Two Arrive at the Same Time.

Well, that is exactly what has happened concerning the sighting of a Black-headed Gull belonging to Adam McClure's former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study (2012 to 2018).  I now respond to sightings of Adam's Gulls.

Black-headed Gull -  2ALT , was ringed as a chick, on the 15th June 2015, at the WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre in County Down.  Since being ringed, the bird managed to pass the years by without being spotted until the 6th July 2025.  Timothy Kinch photographed the gull at Hilbre Island Nature Reserve on the Dee Estuary in Merseyside, England.  10 years and 21 days had slipped by since being ringed at this point.

Richard Smith, who informed me of Timothy's sighting, sent another email on the 4th August 2025.   2ALT  had been spotted again at Hilbre Island by Alan Hitchmough.  Alan has given me permission to post his sighting and graciously allowed me to add the photograph which he took.

The duration since being ringed, has risen to 10 years, 1 month and 20 days, and Hilbre Island is situated 206 kms / 128 miles (SE) from Castle Espie.  Always great to receive sightings of gulls after so many years, and hopefully a few more for this one in the future.

My thanks goes to both Timothy and Alan for their sightings and photos, also to Richard for contacting me.  Richard has his own Blog Post - Dee Estuary Birding (Read Here).

Black-headed Gull  -   2ALT   -  Hilbre Island, Dee Estuary, Merseyside, England  (04 Aug 2025)

(Ringed as a Chick, on the 15th June 2015, at the WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre, Co. Down)

(Photo Courtesy of Alan Hitchmough)

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Antrim Marina - Sunday 3rd August 2025...

Antrim Marina - Sunday 3rd August 2025

Today marked my return to Antrim Marina to begin this winter's series of weekly visits studying the wintering population of Black-headed Gulls on the site.  Some of these gulls have been colour-ringed over past winters and efforts will be made to add additional gulls to my study this winter.

During the summer, not a single gull was spotted in foreign countries.  Prior to the onset of the breeding season -  2FJF  was spotted in Scotland (17th January 2025), and -  2FFH  was found dead at a breeding colony in The Netherlands (suspected 'Bird Flu', but results did not come back to me).   2FFX , was spotted several times at the RSPB's Window on Wildlife Reserve in Belfast, where it once again nested on platform one.   2FFX  has now returned to the Marina, being the 9th of 13 colour-rings recorded today.

I arrived at the Marina at 10am this morning, leaving just after 2pm.  Over my four hour visit, there was a continued mix of cloud and sunshine, with the temperature gauge in my car reading 20ºC.  As the morning wore on, a light breeze turned into a quite strong wind with some gusts felt pushing against my car.

The reading of colour-rings was a very slow and drawn out affair.  Finishing on a total of 13, this represents around of the total which I expect to record over the next couple of months.  I know that there were a number of cases of 'Bird Flu' recorded over the summer, but to what extent it has affected my study birds will be revealed as the winter progresses.

On my arrival, around 40 Black-headed Gulls were present, including three juveniles.  Over the four hours, numbers continued to fluctuate with a maximum of around 60 and a low of 12.  Just four juveniles at any one time, which is already telling me that the Black-headed Gulls have had a poor breeding season locally.  This comes as no surprise, as continuing issues on Lough Neagh, is no doubt influencing the insect population.

Of today's 13 ring sightings, two especially stood out.  The first was that of -  2FHV .  Caught and ringed at the Marina in November 2021, it was spotted twice in a breeding colony in northern Iceland in June and July 2022.  Every five years, a full breeding census of the Black-headed and Common Gulls in Iceland is carried out, hence the sightings of -  2FHV .  No further sightings have been recorded there since, which comes as no surprise (always hopeful).

At the Marina, I have discovered that -  2FHV  uses the site as a 'Staging Point' before moving on to it's wintering site which as yet is unknown.  Normally in February, the gull returns to the Marina on it's way back to Iceland.  The gull had me 'wondering' earlier this year, as it do not return (had it died???).  Last seen on the 19th October 2024 at the Marina, I was so glad to see it back today.  It is now 3 years, 8 months and 26 days since I ringed this gull.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FHV   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (03 Aug 2025)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 8th November 2021, at Antrim Marina)

Talking of Icelandic Black-headed Gulls, the metal-rung -  543335  could well return for a third winter running on my next visit.  Ringed in Iceland in July 2023, it first turned up at Antrim Marina on the 21st August 2023.  Last year, I recorded it's return on the 11th August 2024 and was last seen on the 10th March 2025.

The second Black-headed Gull of interest today, was the rarely spotted -  2FFT .  I ringed this gull in December 2020.  Up until the 12th January 2025, it has only been recorded here on 13 occasions.  With no summer sightings at the Marina, this gull definitely nests elsewhere, perhaps in Europe.  It's appearance at the Marina over the winter can happen at any time, which suggests it does stay somewhere around the town of Antrim.  Always nice to record another sighting, it is now 4 years, 7 months and 13 days since it was ringed.

Black-headed Gull  -   2FFT   -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (03 Aug 2025)

(Ringed as an Unsexed Adult, on the 21st December 2020, at Antrim Marina)

Colour Ringed Black-headed Gulls Recorded at Antrim Marina on Sunday 3rd August 2025

2CSR	2FJA	2FFA	2FIL	2FJN	2FJK	2FJT
2FHV	2FFX	2AAN	2ACV	2FFT	2CJT

During my random summer visits to record the resident Black-headed Gulls, one bird I made mention of due to it's absence was -  2AAB .  This gull was among the first to be ringed belonging to Adam McClure's former Northern Ireland Black-headed Gull Study (2012 to 2018).  Ringed in December 2012, over the following years, I became quite attached to this gull.  When present, I could easily walk up to it and hand feed it with bread.  Last seen on the 3rd March 2025, it was at that time, the oldest living Black-headed Gull belonging to Adam Study.  A year round resident, with no summer sightings and it's absence today, things do not look good.   2AAN , recorded today, would now become the oldest.

Other Birds at Antrim Marina

As I parked beside the short concrete jetty, the female Mute Swan -  X4707 , was on the slipway along with her six cygnets.   X4707 , was ringed in April 2024 at Bartins Bay on Lough Neagh and first appeared here in May 2024.  At that time, she was paired, but in late June 2024 her partner was found dead and she disappeared for a while.  Returning in August 2024 with a new partner, they have remained here since then.

During the summer, several people informed me that a pair of Mute Swans had a nest further upriver from the Marina, but I did not know -  X4707  was involved until she arrived with six tiny youngsters on the 22nd June 2025.  All six cygnets are doing really well, and two of them actually took brown bread from my hand, though the other four are still a bit wary.  The male arrived in from the Lough at 10:50.  I have metal rings for the cygnets, but a continuing back problem rules out any chance to get them ringed.  I'm having thoughts about contacting another ringer from the Belfast and North Down Ringing Group, to see if they would be interested.  For now, I'll wait until all of the cygnets are confident with being around people.

Mallards were present in good numbers, with around 60 birds throughout my visit.  Not long after arriving, I could hear a chick calling.  Looking through my binoculars at the opposite river bank, I could not locate it.  Just before 11am, it and it's mother walked up the slipway and onto the concrete jetty in front of me where they both took a rest.  The chick was tiny, so a very late season hatch.  Later on, both returned to the slipway where the chick could be seen feeding to the delight of three small children.  Not bothered by people, one of the children was able to pet the chick.  It would have made a nice photo, but not likely with children involved.

Female Mallard along with a Single Chick  -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (03 Aug 2025)

A pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present throughout my visit, though they moved around between the Marina and the nearby Play Park.  The resident male Herring Gull also arrived just before 11am, and a short time later, the distinct calling of a juvenile was heard.  It was on the long wooden jetty, and soon joined up with it's father on the slipway.  No Common Gulls appeared today.

Juvenile Herring Gull  -  Antrim Marina, Antrim Town, Co. Antrim  (03 Aug 2025)

The Sand Martins are still present and nesting in the Swift holes just below the roof of the Gateway Centre.  Two Jackdaws were the only other species noted today.

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